Fire mat



Dec. 12, 1939. F. w. BENNETT FIRE MAT Filed June 2, 1938 Invenior FRANK UV- g n/ v57? X%/ a jii'borney Patented Dec. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES FIRE MAT Frank Willard Bennett, Decatur, Ga.; dedicated to the free use of the People of the United States of America Application June 2, 1938, Serial No. 211,326

4 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 30, 1928,-and the invention herein described, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

I hereby dedicate the. invention herein described to the free use of the people of the United States of America to take effect on the granting of a patent to me.

This invention relates to fire extinguishers and is more particularly concerned with a device for extinguishing surface forest or grass fires.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a device as an auxiliary means for quickly controlling fast spreading surface fires, such as the grass fires commonly occurring in some of the southern and western regions of the United States.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such a device which is inexpensive, of simple construction and operation, and which does not require a large number of operators.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned which can be conveniently transported or stored in a small space.

The following description, considered together so with the accompanying drawing, will disclose this invention more fully and further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent.

' In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of 35 this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an isometric view showing the device in a compact roll for storage.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numerals designate like parts, the device is in the form of a large mat and is fabricated of a bottom piece I, and a top piece 2, both of canvas, or other suitable material of a semi-permeable nature. These two pieces are secured together at their outer edges by stitching, or otherwise, to form a confined space between them, and the grommets 3, 3, 3, 3, are disposed one in each corner. The opening 4 is disposed in one corner oi the device for introduc- 50 ing a liquid into the confined space, and a slide fastener I is provided for closing the opening. To insure proper distribution of the liquid throughout the confined space, broken seams 3 are stitched, some horizontally and some vertically, substantially as shown.

Two lengths of rope or cable I, I are attached to each corner of one end of the device through the grommets above-mentioned.

The operation of this invention is as follows:

Through the opening 4 a non-inflammable liquid such as water, or a 10% solution of monoammonium phosphate is poured until the confined space is filled and the opening is then 5 closed by means of the slide fastener 5. Two operators straddling a surface fire drag the device across the fire by means of the cables I, 1. While this requires one of the operators to walk inside the firm zone, this is possible without in- 10 jury in the types of fire to which this device is adapted. The smothering effect of the drag plus the dampening effect of the water, or other chemical solution employed, extinguishes the fire as the mat is dragged along the ground.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A portable mat for extinguishing surface fires, said mat comprising a top canvas section and a bottom canvas section congruent to said top section, said sections being secured together 20 at their outer edges to form a confined space therebetween, means for introducing a fire extinguishing liquid in said confined space, broken stitches securing said sections together at random points, and cables for dragging said mat over a surface fire.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a mat having a top canvas section and a bottom canvas section congruent to said top section, said sections being secured together at their outer edges to form a confined continuous space therebetween, broken stitches securing said sections together at random points, an opening through one of said sections for introducing a fire extinguishing liquid in said confined space, and means for closing said opening.

3. An article of manufacture comprising a mat having a top canvas section and a bottom canvas section congruent to said top section, said sections being secured together at their outer edges to form a confined continuous space therebetween, broken stitches securing said sections together at random points, an opening through one of said sections for introducing a fire extinguishing liquid in said confined space, and a slide fastener for closing said opening.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a mat having a top canvas section and a bottom canvas section congruent to said top section, said sections being secured together at their outer edges to form a confined continuous space therebetween, broken stitches securing said sections together at random points, an opening through one of said sections for introducing a fire extinguishing liquid in said confined space, a slide fastener for closing said opening, and cables for dracslns said met over a surface fire.

FRANK WILLARD BENNETT. 

